Railway signaling



Jul 10, 1928.

s. M. LucAs RAILWAY SIGNALING Original Filed April 18. 1922 INVENTOR Z Patented July it), 1928.

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SAMUEL M. LUCAS, or PITTSBURGH, PENNsYLvAN'IA, .iiss eNoR "TO" rim UNEION: s'wrron & sIoN n-ooMrANY, or swrssvnrn, PENNSYLVANIA, A iconronn'rroN or PENNSYLVANIA.

Original application filed My invention relates to railway signaling systems and particularly to systems of the type comprising electron discharge devices.

More particularly my invention relates to 7 systems embodying such devices in which the flow of current is cont-rolled magneticall i V The presentapplication is a division of my copending application Serial No. 555,339,, filed April 18, 1 922, for railway s gnallng and relays for use therein? I will describe two forms of signaling systems embodying my inventionand wlll then point out the novel features thereof 111 claims. a I

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is "a view, partly diagrammatic, showing one form of signaling system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 :is a view showing 1n side elevation, the relay R, shownv in *1. Fig. 3 is' a view showing a modlfied form of signaling. system also embodying my 1nvention. .Similazr reference characters refer to sim* ilar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the relay R com prises athermionic tube a :containin-ga filainient 2 and aplate or anodew3. The filament 2 is constantly heated .to incandescence by a 'batte'ryi li The. reference character '5 designates a permanent magnet so arranged as to produce a magnetic .flux passing through the tube a in.arpathiperpendicular to that taken by electric current flowing from the. plate 3 to the filament 2. This permanent magnet tends to oppose the flow of current through the tube. Therelay :also comprises a winding .6 which when energized tends to neutralize the action of the magnet 5 on the flow of current through the tube, and so to permit such current to flow.

The reference charactersT and T desig natethe track rails of a railway along which traffic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow, and which rails are divided by insulated joints 7 to form a track section A'-YB. A battery 8 is conne'cted across the rails Eadjacentthe exit end ofjthe section, whereas. the windingfi of relay is connected across the rails adjacent the entrance end of the section. located adjacent the entrance end of section Also RAILWAYSI-GNA-LQING.

April '18, 1922, Serial No. 555,339. Dijvided and this appllcationr filed J anuary 5, 1925, Serial No. 617. Renewed February 11, 1 .92%

A-B is a signal S, which, in the form here shown, is ofthe semaphoretype adapted to indicate Stop and Proceed.

The signal S is provided witha controlling circuit which passes f rom a battery 9, through the filament 2 and plate 30f tube a, wire 11, operating mechanism of signal S, and wire 12 to battery9. When current flows in this circuit, the mec'han-ismv-associated with signal S is operated to cause the signal to indicate proceed, but when the flow of current is arrested the signal. moves to the stopposition under the influence of gravity or other suitable biasing force; 7 v The operation ofthe system shown in Fig. l is as follows:

lrVh'en-the insulated traCksectiOn A B v unoccupied, winding 6 is supplied with Cl1lrent fromr the track battery 8, and sothis wind-111g creates a 'magnetomotive force which .opposes the magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet 5, thereby eliminating or reducing to a small value the magnetic flux in tube a. This tube, is then conductive,

so that current fiows in the controlling circuit tor signal (S, and, consequently, this signal indicates'proceed. When acar-or train enters section A'B, however, the Wheels and axles of such train constitutes a shunt of low resistancearound winding 6, so thatflthis winding is substantially dejenergized.v The magnetomotive force of the permanent magnet "5 being the r unopposed then causes magneticfl-ux' to pass through t-he tube a, so that this :tube is rendered nonconductive. The consequent de-energization of the controlling circuit for signal S results in this signal moving to the stop posicupied. .i

-tion, thus indicatingthat the section is co Referring nowto -Fig. 3, the signal which is here designated Sficomprises two electric lamps g and 7, adapted when lighted to incept that the permanent magnet isomitted. The winding 6 for relay R and -the winding 6' for relay R are connected in series across the track rails and T. adjacent the .en- 7 trance 'endof section Al3, so that these windingsare both energized when the section is unoccupied, and de-energized when the section is occupied. Thefilament 2 in each relay is constantly heated to incandesceiiceby acommon battery A.

The circuit for-lamp g of'signal S passes from battery 9, through wire 10, filament 2 and plate 3 of relay R, wire 11, lamp 9 and wire 12 t wire 15, lamp rand wire 12 to battery 9.

- continued.

The operation of the systein shown in Fig.3 is as follows: 1

WVhen track section A-B is unoccupied, winding 6 is energized so thatthe magnetoniotive force due to the'permanent magnet 5 is neutralized Which reduces the magnetic flux through the tube to zero or to a small value, with the result that the tube a of re-.

lay R isconductive and so the proceed lamp 9 of signal S is lighted. Winding 6 is also energized but it creates a magnetic flux in the tube a of relay R with the result that this tube is non-conductive and so signal lamp 7 is extinguished. W lien a car or train enters section A-B, windings 6. and G become deen'ergized, so that the thermionic tube of relay It becomes non-conductive due tothe magnetic flux created by the magnet 5, whereas the thermionic tube of relay R becomes conductive, due tothe fact that the supply of magnetic flux to this tube is dis- -It follows that lamp 9 becomes extinguished and lamp '1" becomes liglited so that signal S.- indicates stop;

all

- One important feature of my. invention is the provision of a relay having no moving parts. Another important feature is that the track winding 6 or 6 can be highlyinsulated from the circuits which it controls; by appropriate ,,design the relay will stand a break down test ofseveralthousandvolts between winding 6 or 6" and the controlling circuits forthesignal S or S Another important feature of the invention is that interruption of the proceedindicationcircuit scribed only two the permanent magnet 5 important feature controls the proceed indication ofthe signal of the signal "depends solely on the ability of derstood that various changes and modifica tions may be made therein within the scope battery19. The circuit for lamp. ris from battery .9, through :wires 10,. 1 3 and 14, filament 2 and plate 3 of relay B to maintain its field of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A railway signaling system comprising thermionic tube, a circuit including a source of current and said tube, asignal controlled by said circuit, a magnet for'opposing the flow of current through said tube, a winding for opposing the etfect of said magnet on the flow of current through said tube, and train-controlled means for supplying current to said winding.

2. A railway signaling system comprising a thermionic tube having a plate-and a heat ed filament, a circuit including a source of current and the plate and filament of said tube, a signal controlled by said circuit, a' v magnet for opposing the flow of current 7 through said tube, a winding for opposing the effect of said magnet onthe flow of ourrent through said tube, andtrain-controlled means for supplying current to said wind.-.

3. A railway signaling system comprising track rails, a source of current connected therewith, a thermionic tube, amagnet for i opposing llllGfiOW of current in said tube, a

winding receiving energy from said track rails for opposing the effect of said magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a source of current,

and a signal controlled by said circuit. a 4. A railway signaling systeincomprising track rails, a source of current connected iUU v therewith, a thermionic tube, a magnet for opposing the flow of current in said tube,

a winding receiving energy from: said track rails for opposing the efi'ectof said magnet onthe flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a source of current,

a signal, and means controlled by said circuit when current flows therein for causing said signalto indicate Proceed.

5. A railway signaling system comprising track rails, a source of current connected therewith, a thermionic tube, a magnet for opposing the flow of current insaid tube,

a winding receiving energy from said track rails for'opposing theeifect of=said-magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit and asignal comprising an electric lamp included in said circuit. i

'6: A railwaysignaling system comprising track rails, a source of currentconnected therewith, a thermionic'tube, a magnet for opposing the flow of current in said tube,

winding receiving ener from said track rails for opposing the e ect of said. magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a source of current,

including said tube and a source of current, v

and traflic governing means controlled by said circuit.

7 A railwa si nalin s stem coin risin I y z: a: a

track rails, a source of current connected therewith, a thermionic tube, a magnet for opposing the flow of current in said tube, a winding receiving energy from said track rails for opposing the effect of said magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a source of current, a second thermionic tube, a windingforsaid second tube receiving energy from said track rails, a second circuit including said second tube and a' source of'current, and signaling means controlled by said two cir cuits.

8. A railway signaling system comprising track rails, a source of current connected therewith, a thermionic tube, a magnet for opposing the flow of current in said tube,

a winding receiving energy from said track rails for opposing the effect of said magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a sourceof'current, a second thermionic tube, a winding for said second tube receiving energy from said track rails, a second circuit including said second tube and a source of current, and a signal having a proceed indication lamp included in said first circuit and a stop indication lamp included in said second circuit.

9. A railway signaling system comprising track ralls, a source of current connected therewith, a thermionic tube, a magnet for opposing the'fiow of current in said tube, a winding receiving energy from said track rails for opposing the effect of said magnet on the flow of current in said tube, a circuit including said tube and a source ofcurrent, a second thermionic tube, a winding for said second tube receiving energy from said track rails, a second circuit including said second tube and a source of current, a signal, and

means for causing said signal to give one I,

indication or another according as one of sa d circuits or the other is energlzed.

10. A rallway signalmg system compr1sving track rails, a source of current connected 11. A railway trafiic controlling system comprising a magnetron, a permanent magnet f'or affecting the electrical conductivity of said magnetron, traflic controlled means for modifying the effect of said magnet on said magnetron, and trafiic governing means controlled by said magnetron.

12. A railway traffic controlling system comprising a magnetron, a permanent magnet foraffecting the electrical conductivity of said magnetron, a winding for modifying the effect of said magnet on said magnetron,

trafiic controlled means for varying the effect of said magnet and said winding on said magnetron, and traffic governing means con trolled by said magnetron.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 7

' SAMUEL M. LUCAS. 

